Va. CIA officer pleaded guilty to leaking identity of operative

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Va. CIA officer pleaded guilty to leaking identity of operative

VA. (WTVR)–A former CIA officer from Arlington pleaded guilty Tuesday to leaking the identity of one of the agency’s covert operatives to a reporter and will be sentenced to more than two years in prison.

As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges for John Kiriakou, 48, that had been filed under the World War I-era Espionage Act. They also dropped a count of making false statements.

Kiriakou admitted to illegally revealing the identity of a covert intelligence officer.

He also admitted to other charges, including lying to a CIA review board about a book he wrote that had a classified investigative technique.

But under his deal with prosecutors, the illegal revelation is the only one for which Kiriakou will serve prison time.

Kiriakou and prosecutors agreed to a 30-month term, but his official sentencing will be in January.

Before the deal, he faced 45 years behind bars. CBS reports that he will remain free until his Jan. 25 sentencing. Kiriakou’s lawyer said that he took the plea because he has five children and wants to be out in enough time to see them grow.